Sino-Tajik ties enter new phase

China and Tajikistan signed a treaty of permanent good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation on Tuesday, ushering in a new phase in bilateral ties.

President Xi Jinping and visiting Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed the treaty at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Rahmon is in China on a four-day state visit, which started on Monday.

During their talks, Xi said that firmly supporting each other is the core essence of China-Tajikistan relations.

He said that regardless of changes in the external environment, China and Tajikistan will always remain good neighbors who help each other, good friends who trust each other with sincerity, and good partners who join hands for development.

The signing of the China-Tajikistan Treaty on Permanent Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation will fully demonstrate the high level of political mutual trust between the two countries, providing a solid guarantee for everlasting friendship from one generation to another, Xi said, adding that China is willing to work with Tajikistan to promote the building of a closer community with a shared future to better benefit the people of both nations.

Rahmon hailed the signing of the treaty, saying that it marks the start of a new historical stage in the countries' relations, and will open up new prospects for their long-term cooperation.

The treaty came amid the steady growth of bilateral ties guided by the two heads of state in recent years. In 2023, the two countries announced the building of a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit. In 2024, the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.

Xi paid three state visits to Tajikistan — in 2014, 2019 and 2024. Rahmon visited China 22 times, and his last trip to China was to attend the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin and the grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing last September.

During the talks on Tuesday, Xi called on the two countries to deeply align their development strategies under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to assist each other in achieving their development goals.

He underlined the need to consolidate the positive momentum of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries to explore cooperation potential, and simultaneously enhance the scale and quality of trade and investment.

It is essential to ensure the implementation of key projects, expand cooperation in areas such as green energy, the digital economy, smart cities and artificial intelligence, and boost technological innovation, Xi said.

Xi highlighted the need to strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation in order to resolutely combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and jointly maintain regional stability.

Rahmon hailed the development of bilateral ties and fruitful cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, transportation and agriculture. He reiterated Tajikistan's commitment to the one-China principle, saying that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.

Tajikistan looks forward to strengthening practical cooperation with China in key areas such as critical minerals, AI and technological innovation, facilitating mutual visits and enhancing educational exchanges to further advance the relationship between the two countries, he said.

Rahmon said the Global Governance Initiative, proposed by President Xi, holds significant importance for the world. Tajikistan highly appreciates China's relentless efforts to promote the political settlement of international hotspot issues and its important role in easing tensions in the Middle East, he said.

After the talks, the two heads of state signed a joint statement of the two countries on deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era. They also witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in areas such as political party exchanges, trade and investment, AI, green minerals and media.

Economic and trade cooperation has been a steady driver of China-Tajikistan ties. China has become Tajikistan's largest trading partner and remains its top source of investment. Bilateral trade reached $790 million in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of over 50 percent, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

Liu Yitong, an assistant research fellow at the Department for World Economy and Development of the China Institute of International Studies, said that amid growing uncertainties and instability in the international situation, strengthening high-level exchanges and deepening strategic mutual trust between China and Tajikistan are of great practical and exemplary significance.

Rahmon's China visit is expected to solidify political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, enhance cultural exchanges and strengthen security collaboration between the two countries, Liu said.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn